<i>Same old Shamim Osman</i>
Shamim Osman, a ruling Awami League stalwart in Narayanganj city also a mayoral candidate in the maiden city corporation election there, is so feared by the local people that none dares to publicly speak against him.
Even his party leaders, high government officials, and other mayoral candidates are afraid of his wrath, because according to them, he controls everything there wielding absolute power.
Many however speak highly about him, despite his notorious reputation, just to stay in his good graces, said a local businessman on condition of anonymity.
A former AL lawmaker, Shamim, used to be considered a godfather of local criminals during the last AL regime.
His two rivals in the upcoming poll Selina Hayat Ivy, a vice president of the town unit AL, and BNP District Unit President Taimur Alam Khandoker have a number of allegations against him, but it seems that they are also afraid to speak against him.
Some top ranking BNP leaders of the city spoke against "his" illegal activities without mentioning his name. When asked who they mean by "he", they said everybody knows who that person is.
Being frightened, both electoral rivals of Shamim demanded deployment of the army and a reshuffle in the civil administration and police prior to the Narayanganj City Corporation poll due on October 30.
"We thought he would change himself after returning home from hiding. But we have been proven wrong," a local resident told The Daily Star on Monday preferring not to be named.
Criminals are still surrounding the controversial leader, he added.
Giving the example of a recent incident where Shamim threatened to harm ruling party lawmaker of the district Sarah Begum Kabori -- Taimur said when a lawmaker is threatened at a law and order meeting in front of the deputy commissioner and high police and civil officials, how could people be safe from that person.
"I don't want to mention his name. Everybody knows him," the BNP leader said in his Narayanganj residence.
Ivy, the immediate past mayor of the now defunct Narayanganj municipality, said Shamim Osman is manoeuvring to make it difficult for her to contest in the mayoral poll.
"He is using the administration to do whatever he feels necessary against me," she alleged. As an example she talked about an incident when her media briefing at Narayanganj Press Club was suddenly foiled by police.
She said she believes Shamim was behind the incident and many others like that.
Asked about the allegations, Shamim Osman yesterday said, "If there is any allegation against me, I will definitely correct myself. But I don't have any allegation against anybody." He termed the allegations against him "antiquated".
"How many times we will speak about the past? Let's move forward and work together for the betterment of the people of Narayanganj and create an example for all," he said adding that the overall atmosphere in the city is fine.
Shamim Osman returned to Narayanganj in April 2009 after around eight years' of self-exile. He fled to India and then to Canada after AL's poll debacle in 2001 national election. He returned home once before in 2006 but after a brief stay left the country again before the 1/11 political changeover in 2007.
Shamim was accused in a number of criminal cases, but the proceedings of all the cases against him were stayed by the High Court.
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